July Manchester Police Shooting 'Justified,' Inspector General Says

MANCHESTER, CT — A report released Wednesday by the Office of the Inspector General indicates that a Manchester police officer was justified in shooting a man armed with a knife when responding to a domestic incident in July of last year.

According to law enforcement reports, at 6:39 p.m. on July 16, Manchester police officer Haylee Ouellette responded to a domestic disturbance call at 243-A North Main St. When Oullette arrived at the scene, she was confronted by Joseph Diloreto, who was armed with a knife, according to police reports.

He immediately became belligerent with Ouellette, and as he advanced toward her, she put out her hand to stop him and he slapped her hand away, according to information from the Division of Criminal Justice.

Diloreto then yelled "Shoot me," according to a DCJ report.

Ouellette deployed her taser, but it didn't stop Diloreto from advancing on her and she retreated to an adjacent courtyard while repeatedly commanding him to drop the knife, according tp a DCJ report.

Diloreto disregarded these commands and continued to advance on the officer, shouting "Hit me, hit me, hit me," and Ouellette fired on him multiple times with her department-issued handgun, according to a DCJ report. Diloreto was hit in the upper left thigh, fell to the ground and Ouellette was able to secure the knife and handcuff him, according to the DCJ.

Diloreto was treated at the scene, then was taken to Hartford Hospital for further treatment.

The encounter with Diloreto was recorded on Ouellette’s body-worn camera. A portion of that recording may be viewed here.

By statute, the Office of Inspector General must investigate incident of police using force.

Robert J. Devlin, Jr., the state's inspector general, authored it the report released Wednesday.

It reads, in part:

"In summary, the investigation establishes that, pursuant to a 911 call, the Manchester Police Department dispatched Officer Ouellete to 243A North Main Street on a report of a possible domestic disturbance.

"Upon arrival, Officer Ouellete heard yelling coming from the apartment. When she stepped inside to investigate, Officer Ouellete encountered Joseph Diloreto.

"Diloreto, who was in a highly agitated state, advanced toward Officer Ouellete threatening to kill her. She backed out of the apartment onto a grassy area outside.

"She also observed Diloreto to be holding a knife. He ignored multiple commands to drop the knife and continued to advance on Officer Ouellete. After a taser deployment was unsuccessful, and Diloreto continued to advance holding the knife, Officer Ouellete fired multiple rounds from her handgun. One shot hit Diloreto in the upper leg.

"Based on the facts developed during the investigation, I have determined that Officer
Ouellete used deadly force to defend herself from what she reasonably believed to be the
threat of serious injury of death. Accordingly, I find such use of force to be objectively
reasonable and justified."

Devlin added, "I have further determined that such belief would be shared by a reasonable police officer in the same circumstances."

He continued, "The use of deadly force by Officer Haylee Ouellete was objectively reasonable and

justified under Connecticut law. The Office of Inspector General will take no further action in
this mater."